The US State Department has cleared a $340 million foreign military sale to support Japan’s upgraded Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) program, covering a range of equipment and services.
Japan’s request includes test preparation assistance, range surveillance and safety measures, radio frequency allocation, as well as coordination meetings held in both the US and Japan, alongside broader logistics and program support elements.
This approval follows a similar agreement authorized in March 2025, valued at $200 million.
According to the official notification, the proposed sale is expected to enhance Japan’s ability to address current and emerging threats, particularly in defending its remote islands, with no anticipated challenges in integrating the systems into its armed forces.
Island Defense Capability
Japan’s HVGP program is a ground-launched weapon system that integrates a ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle, designed for deployment by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces in island defense and counterstrike missions.
The system uses a rocket booster to reach high altitude before separating and gliding toward its target at hypersonic speeds.
The HVGP Block 1 is estimated to have a range between 500 and 900 kilometers (310–559 miles), while longer-range variants are currently under development.
The program’s research and development phase began in fiscal year 2018, with completion targeted for 2025, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries serving as the primary manufacturer.
However, rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific prompted Japan to initiate early production in 2023, even as development continues.
Japan plans to deploy the current HVGP variant domestically by March 31, alongside its upgraded Type 12 long-range surface-to-ship missile systems.
